I am a Muslim, a Christian, a Jew and a Buddhist too. If you don't like it, then this place is not for you, but as long as you don't force your beliefs on anyone, you're welcome to join in, it doesn't matter if you're a liberal, a republican or just simply you.

I Love NY

March 09, 2007

Sidenote for Najia, while looking up barbarian stumbled across where Berber probably came from. The Arabic barbar which was derived from the Greek word. (:

Anna, in all my attempts trying to trace Berber roots over the years, I've come to find many contradicting accounts on Berber heritage, but one thing I found most researchers agree on is that Berbers, or Imazighen (<~freemen, as we call ourselves) are considered indigenous inhabitants of Northern Africa and some parts of Southern Europe, but the best account I've ever come across, one that I personally can relate to (but then again I feel can relate to a lot of things), is this one by Jawad: In DHD: The Amazigh: Returning from the Ashes of Neglect I

"Although some know them as âBerbersâ, the native people of North Africa would rather be called by the name once chosen by their ancestors, a name that has come to symbolize their spirit and define their struggle. Amazigh (sing.) or Imazighen (plur.) in the native language of North Africa means 'freemen' and it is in defense of their freedom that the Amazigh people have fought countless invasions and campaigns of repression by some of historyâs most powerful armies (i.e., Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Turkish, European).

Their cause and struggle continues to be ignored by many around the world. In fact many who are familiar with the word âBerberâ associate it with some kind of carpet when it refers to an entire civilization. So, let us cover some basics about who the Amazigh people are. They are people of no particular race who are considered to be the native people of North Africa. Their presence in that part of the world dates back to some 5,000 years B.C. Their biggest and strongest asset is their language and their common value system. Although they were largely forgotten by modern history, the Amazigh people are now awakening to the sounds of democracy and freedom in one of the most troubled regions of the world.

The task of introducing the Amazigh people to the world is not an easy one and would certainly require an exhaustive essay that covers a healthy dose of historical and cultural information. Nonetheless, although somewhat simplistic, my approach is to describe the Amazigh people within the societal context of the intended audience. Here I try to introduce the Amazigh people to the American reader. As such, I find it useful to engage in a what-if exercise that implants the Amazigh people in America and defines their likely political affiliation given their present values and practices. This is an easy way for American readers to relate to the information thus presented about a civilization that is foreign to them.

The Amazigh people would likely vote for the GOP if they were in America. They are largely pro-business and pro-free trade. Indeed, throughout their history, the Amazigh people have always been known for their entrepreneurial savvy and their penchant for commerce. In Morocco, they are often envied for their business sense and their successful know-how of wealth creation despite limited opportunities and discrimination. At the center of their value system are trust and honor. Trust is always on deposit and honor is an inviolable virtue. Any breach of trust can condemn a relationship to eternal oblivion and any breach of honor can give rise to fierce resistance.

In business, they are enterpreneurial in that they seek to mitigate risks all while increasing the likelihood of success, but they still rely on trust as a gold standard. It is not at all unusual for an Amazigh shopkeeper, for instance, to trust a fellow citizen with the differed payment of purchases without any binding legal instruments. Simply put, to the Imazighen, deferred payment is preferable to deferred business. However, far from being naÃ¯ve, Amazigh entrepreneurs engage in such conduct only when they perceive a state of shared values and personal integrity. It is, hence, no surprise that they are more inclined, at least initially, to trust their brethren rather than outsiders.

The Amazigh people would likely vote for the GOP if they were in America. They are conservative in that they are people of deep faith and wield a strong code of ethics. The Amazigh people of Morocco are mainly followers of a mystical form of Islam. The shrines of their local saints are revered and frequently visited. They heed calls for moral revival with great enthusiasm. On God, Gays, and Family, the Amazigh people would give Karl Rove a standing ovation. They do not, however, wear their faith on their sleeves and do not proselytize. This is again due to their belief in personal responsibility. They largely believe religion to be a personal relationship between God and his creation. Once I asked a respected Amazigh religious leader what he thought about jihadists. In a direct reference to UBL, he calmly replied: âSince when has the length of oneâs beard reflect the depth of oneâs faithâ."

Continue reading Jawad's accounts on Berbers part one and part two....

As the war between ideologies is raging all over the globe, it's becoming more evident now that the entire human civilization is consumed with a critical identity crisis. people are constantly trying to redefine themselves especially when it comes to national identity, along with religion. I think humans tend to attach too much value to one's identity, because personally I believe that one's identity is an intimate personal matter, just like religion. I define mine as whatever I FEEL a strong kingship to...an emotional connection that I proudly wear on my sleeves at times, and all I have to do is look through my closet to prove it to myself.

June 20, 2006

Now, I remember a few years ago I went to see my cousin in New York. I came into Penn Station, which is a huge, busy terminal for various modes of transit in Manhattan. (Penn Station is also where Madison Square Garden is, so you can imagine.) I was staying awhile, and had a couple of big suitcases plus a backpack. I was supposed to meet my cousin near the Amtrack counter, but I got turned around and decided to ask a woman for directions. I politely asked her if she could point me to the Amtrack station. She stared at me for about five seconds without saying anything, then clutched her purse tighter to her chest and gave me a dirty look. I was like, "WTF?" I just left, but I wanted to ask her, "Lady, where do you think I'm gonna put your purse even if I wanted to steal it?" Yeah, could you imagine ... here I am, already overloaded with my own bags, and I'm gonna try to rip off some woman's purse. Hell, I was at the stage where I woulda paid her to carry my bags for me!

OK, cut to the scenario where I, Peaceful Vanguard, just ripped off some woman's purse in Penn Station:

Me, waddling as fast as I can through a crowd at Penn Station, a heavy suitcase in each hand, backpack on my back, with some woman's dirty handbag now clutched in my teeth, frantically screeching, "Excuth me ... EXCUTH ME! Coming through!! <waddle waddle, drooooooooool>"